Clip assembly



April 28, 1964 c. HANSEN ETAL 3,130,710

CLIP ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 25, 1961 INVENTORS LEW/5 CARROLL HANSEN 8 NATHAIV'ALTER ZEPELL Ana/wr United States Patent 3,130,710 QLW ASSEMBLY Lewis Carroll Hansen and Nathan Alter Zepell, Fort Madison, Iowa, assignors to W. A. Sheafler Pen Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Filed lien. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,211 3 Ciairns. (6i. Rib-42.03)

This invention relates to a clip assembly and has special reference to a pocket clip assembly of the type used on the holder of a writing implement or the like.

More particularly, this invention relates to a clip assembly comprising a holder, a clip disposed externally of the holder and including an intermediate mounting portion and an inwardly directed dependent end portion, the mounting portion extending to a position within the holder and providing an outwardly facing offset therein, an actuating member within the holder having an intermediate section engaging the offset, the actuating member including upper and lower end sections engaging the interior wall of the holder to maintain the clip in yieldable operating position, and means to maintain the actuating member against longitudinal movement relative to the offset whereby the clip and the actuating member form a unit adapted for pivotal movement relative to the holder and about a point on the clip adjacent the mounting portion. A driving member is mounted for reciprocal movement within the holder, the driving member being pro vided with an inclined surface and transverse means contiguous with said inclined surface, the lower end section of the actuating member being engageable successively with the inclined surface and the transverse means in response to pivotal movement of the unit, and a resilient element urging the driving member toward the rearward position.

A clip of the type usually provided on a writing instrument or the like, includes a resilient arm having mounting means on one end thereof and an inwardly di rected contact member, generally of a semi-spherical configuration, on the other end. The mounting means may consist of a pair of deformable ears, an annular ring, or the like, rigidly secured to the instrument in such a manner that the contact member or means carried at the free end of the arm normally is urged toward and positioned against the body of the instrument. The resilient arm, however, permits limited transverse movement of the contact member in a direction away from the body to slidably receive therebetween the top edge of the shirt or coat pocket in which the instrument may be carried. The resilient arm, of course, acts to maintain a constant pressure on the pocket material.

It has been observed that after being used for a period of time, the arm of the usual clip is subject to fracture or severe distortion. Such breakage or distortion, of course, is of definite inconvenience to the user because of the extra care necessitated in order to prevent inadvertent loss of the implement.

The free end portion of the above described type of clip projects a substantial distance from the outer surface of the implement to which it is attached. This characteristic is objectionable to many individuals as the clip may irritate the hand after a long period of use, thus interferring with free rotatable movement of the implement during writing. Such movement is desirable when using certain types of writing instruments, particularly pencils or ball point pens, so as to insure even wearing of the writing medium or tip.

.Further, the usual clip has only one function or purpose, that being, to hold the implement within a coat or shirt pocket. If the implement includes an extensible writing unit, or the like, such as that in the present day ice retractable ball point pen, separate means must be provided in order to accomplish the desired reciprocal movement of the unit, and such additional mechanism not only complicates the construction of the implement but increases the cost of manufacture and the retail price to the ultimate user.

In addition, the normal pocket clip utilizes for assembly purposes a pair of deformable cars, a mounting ring or the like which are diflicult to dismantle, and this factor complicates subsequent disassembly of the clip and holder should the clip arm break or otherwise need adjustment or replacement.

United States Patent No. 2,881,736, dated April 14, 1959, discloses a writing instrument having a clip assembly arranged for pivotal movement to reciprocate a writing point assembly between exposed and concealed positions. The present invention discloses a clip assembly in the same generic class as that of United States Patent No. 2,881,736, but having a minimum number of parts and improved means of retaining such parts in an assembled relationship.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is the provision of a clip which may be moved to a substantially recessed position with respect to the surface of the implement on which it is mounted when the implement is conditioned for use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clip assembly which may be assembled and subsequently dismantled very readily, but which will remain assembled under all conditions of normal use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a clip having a relatively rigid arm, and a resilient actuating member which provides the resiliency necessary to allow the movement of the clip arm upon insertion into a coat or shirt pocket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clip arm which is pivotally mounted on a holder and movable to :a substantially recessed inoperative position while the holder is in use, and means within the holder to urge the clip arm outwardly to .an operative position.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a clip assembly which is movable to the above described recessed position while simultaneously extending a writing unit or the like from a retracted to an advanced position.

Further and additional objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, when taken with the accompanying drawings, in Which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of a writing implement constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1 showing a change in position of the clip assembly and writing unit; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the actuating member utilized in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is disclosed a writing implement having a holder or barrel 10 consisting of a forward portion 12 and a rearward portion 14. These portions may be made of any one of a number of well known plastic or metal materials providing the rigidity, strength and long Wearing surface characteristics required in writing instruments or other similar articles. The forward barrel portion 12 includes a rearwardly extending threaded collar 16, which is of reduced diameter for engagement with suitable threads provided on the interior of the barrel portion 14 in order to secure the barrel parts in axial alignment.

A writing point assembly 18 is mounted for reciprocal movement Within the barrel It), the point assembly including a generally cylindrical reservoir section 20 which is reduced in diameter adjacent its forward end thereby providing an intermediate shoulder 22. Mounted on the forward end of the reduced section 24 of the reservoir portion 20 is a writing point 26 which is shown as being of the ball point type although it will be understood that other types of writing points or similar marking tips may be utilized. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter the writing point 26 is movable with the writing point assembly 18 between an exposed writing position and a concealed storage position.

The forward portion 12 is provided at its lower end with a bore 28 of smaller diameter than the interior of the barrel 10, thus creating a shoulder 30. Disposed between the shoulder 39 and the shoulder 22 of the writing point assembly 18 is a resilient element 32 normally urging the point assembly in a rearward direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the resilient element 32 is shown as comprising a coil spring formed of the usual metalic spring Wire.

Disposed externally of the barrel or holder ltl is a clip 34 which may be fabricated from a flat sheet of metal, such as brass or the like, and plated or otherwise finished to provide a pleasing and attractive appearance. The clip 34 includes an intermediate mounting portion 36, comprising a pair of substantially parallel side walls extending through an upper aperture 38. If it should be found desirable for manufacturing or other purposes, the aperture 38 may take the form of slots spaced to as to slidably receive the side walls. Extending forwardly and rearwardly of the mounting portion 36 is an arm 40 terminating On its dependent end in an inwardly directed end portion 42, and on its upper end in an inwardly projecting generally box-shaped portion 44. While the inwardly projecting box-shaped portion 44 is not essential from a functional standpoint, it is provided in the instant embodiment for the purpose of eliminating any sharp edges which might tend to catch on the clothing of the user. The inwardly projecting box-like portion 44 is disposed for movement through aperture 46, which is longitudinally aligned with aperture 38 in the upper barrel portion 14.

In order to hold the clip 34 in an assembled relationship with the upper barrel portion and for other purposes to be described hereinafter, there is provided an actuating member 48 disposed internally of the holder 10. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the actuating member 48 includes an intermediate section providing laterally extending shoulders 50 which abuts outwardly facing offsets 52 provided on the mounting portion or side walls 36. Portion 54, extending upwardly from the shoulders 50, is sized so as to fit between the side walls 36. It is necessary to hold the actuating member against longitudinal displacement relative to the offsets S2, and for this purpose there are means 56 disposed adjacent the upper end of the actuating member and adapted to engage the holder 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the means 56 comprise an outwardly extending section having a generally semi-hexagonal shape. Preferably the means 56 is formed as an integral part of the actuating member 48, and adapted for suspension on the forward edge of the aperture 46.

As will be noted from FIGURES 1 and 2, the actuating member 48 is formed into a slight V shape, with the apex of the V being in the area of the laterally extending shoulders 50. Thus, the upper and lower end sections 58 and 60, respectively, of the actuating member 48 engage the interior surface of the rearward barrel portion 14 to hold the clip 34 in operating position.

The lower end section 6% of the actuating member 48 preferably is formed with an outwardly facing contact surface 62 adapted for engagement with the inwardly directed end portion 4-2, such contact being provided through a lower aperture 64 which is in axial alignment with apertures 38 and 46.

The clip 34 and actuating member 48 form what might be considered as an actuating unit which is pivotal relative to the barrel 1% about a point 66 on the clip 34 immediately above the mounting portion 36. This unit is pivotally movable between a first position as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and a second position as illustrated in FIG- URE 2. In the first position, the inwardly directed dependent end portion 42 is disposed externally of the upper barrel portion 14, with a part of the box-like portion 44 being disposed inwardly of the barrel It through the aperture 46. During movement toward the second position. the inwardly directed dependent end portion 42 moves inwardly toward the axis of the implement through aperture 64 until it is disposed substantially within the interior of the barrel 1%. Simultaneously the open-box like portion 44 moves outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the implement. During such movement of the actuating unit between the two positions, the inwardly directed dependent end portion 42 remains in engagement with the outwardly facing contact surface 52 of the actuating member 48.

A driving member 68 is mounted adjacent the aperture 64 and arranged for limited reciprocal movement within the barrel it While the driving member 68 may be die cast or otherwise formed of metal, it is preferred to mold it of a wear l'resistant plastic material such as a polyamide, more commonly known as nylon. The driving member may be generally cylindrical in shape and provided on its forward end with a recess 76 to removably receive the rearward end of the writing point assembly 18.

An opening 72 extends through the side of the driving member 63, the opening facing toward the lower aperture 64 and being of a width adapted to receive the lower end 6%) of the actuating member 48. Defined in the base of the opening 72 is an inclined cam surface 74 against which the lower end 6i? of the actuating member 48 acts in order to reciprocate the driving member 68 and the writing point assembly 18 in response to the above described pivotal movement of the clip 34 and actuating member 48.

As will be readily apparent from the above description, inward movement of the dependent end portion 42 of the clip arm 34 and corresponding movement of the lower end 50 will cause the driving member and writing point assembly to move in a forward direction to advance the writing point 26 forwardly of the barrel portion 12 for writing purposes; and subsequent outwardly movement of the dependent end portion 42 and lower end 60 will allow retraction of the driving member 68 and writing point assembly 18 to the rearward position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing. Thus, while the clip arm 34 is in the inward position, the dependent end portion 42 will be disposed internally of the holder and will not interfere with use of the implement, regardless of the manner in which it may be held by the user.

It is necessary to hold the driving member 68 and writing point assembly 18 in the advanced and retracted positions as will be understood by those in the art, and for this purpose there is provided transverse surface means contiguous with the inclined usrface 74. The transverse surface means comprises a first indent 76 on the lower end of the inclined surface '74, and a second indent 78 at the upper end of the said surface 74. The indents 76 and 78 extend substantially transversely of the longitudinal axis of the holder iii and are of a Width sufiicient to engage the bottom edge of the lower end 60 of the actuating member 48. Thus, when the clip 34 and actuating member 48 are disposed in the first position exposing the inwardly directed dependent end portion 42, the first indent 76 abuts the bottom edge of the lower end 60 thereby arresting further movement of the driving member 68 and abutting writing point assembly 18 against the rearwardly directed force of the coil spring 32. And the second indent 7 8 releasably abuts the lower end 60 upon pivotal movement of the clip 38 and actuating member 48 to the second position illustrated in FIGURE 2'in which position, the inwardly directed dependent end portion 42 is substantially disposed within the interior of the upper barrel portion 14.

The clip assembly described hereinabove is exceedingly simple and convenient in use. To move the clip to a substantially concealed position while simultaneously advancing the writing point assembly 18 to the writing position, the user merely presses inwardly on the clip adjacent the end portion 42. As a result of such inward movement, actuating member 48 successively engages the inclined surface 74 and indent 78, thus advancing the point 26 and locking it in the writing position while simultaneously holding the clip 34 in the concealed position. Thus, as mentioned above, the clip will not interfere with free rotatable movement of the implement during use, nor irritate the hand of the user after long periods of employment.

Subsequent retraction of the unit and movement of the clip 34 to the operative position is accomplished very readily as it merely is necessary for the user to press inwardly on the upper end of the clip 34 adjacent the boxlike portion 44. This inward pressure is required only momentarily since the inclined surface 74 acting against the lower end 69 of the actuating member 48 will move the clip 34 outwardly after disengagement with the second indent 78. Accordingly, the repositioning of the clip in the operative position is substantially automatic and requires no attention or effort on the part of the user.

Upon reaching the outward or operative position, the clip 34 may then be used to secure the implement to a coat or shirt pocket, or the like. This is accomplished by pulling outwardly the lower end of the clip 34 or pressing inwardly on its upper end. Either action will cause the inwardly directed end portion 42 to move outwardly from the barrel 10, thereby providing space for insertion of the edge of a pocket. The actuating member 48 preferably is formed of a relatively resilient material such as spring steel, thereby providing an inwardly directed force on the clip 34 and consequently on the end portion 42 to cause the material of a pocket to be gripped between the end portion 42 and the contact surface 62 of the actuating member 48.

The writing point assembly 18 is illustrated in the above described embodiment as being of a disposable or replaceable type, and for the purpose of replacing a depleted writing point assembly, the user may unscrew the rearward barrel portion 14 from the forward barrel portion 12. During such time as the barrel portions are separated, it is desirable to maintain the driving member 68 within the barrel portion 14, and for this purpose there is frictionally mounted within its open forward end a sleeve 80 providing a radially extending shoulder 82 which defines an aperture of sufficient diameter to slidably receive the writing point assembly 18 but smaller than the driving member 68.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a construction which is manufactured readily and inexpensively, but which is quite rugged and dependable in operation. The manner of its assembly is quite simple, none of the parts being riveted, soldered, or otherwise permanently secured together during the assembly operation, which feature is very advantageous should it subsequently be necessary to dismantle the implement to replace or adjust a part damaged through abuse. The clip 34 is disposed with the mounting portion 36 extending through the aperture 38, the actuating member 48 is biased into a substantially straight condition and disposed with the lateral shoulders 50 against the outwardly facing offsets 52, whereafter the driving member 68 is dropped into the upper barrel portion, and the sleeve 80 frictionally fit within the open end of the barrel portion 14. In dismantling the implement these steps merely are reversed.

Thewriting clip assembly of the instant invention'may be utilized with various types of implements such as the illustrated ball point assembly, a retractable fountain pen assembly, a scribing tool or other types of marking implements in which it is desirable to reciprocate the point between an exposed writing position and a concealed storage position. It will be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to the embodiment described above, and it is contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In an article of the character described, a holder, a clip disposed externally of said holder and including an intermediate mounting portion and an inwardly directed dependent end portion, said mounting portion extending to a position within said holder, a resilient actuating member within said holder and having an upper end section engaging the interior wall of said holder, a lower end section in engagement with the inwardly directed end portion of said clip, and an inwardly bowed intermediate section in engagement with the mounting portion of said clip and resiliently urging said mounting portion inwardly to maintain said clip in yieldable operating position, the upper end section of said actuating member having means for suspension on said holder above said mounting portion to releasably maintain said actuating member against longitudinal movement relative to said clip, whereby said clip and said actuating member form a unit adapted for pivotal movement between first and second positions relative to said holder, and a driving member disposed for reciprocal movement within said holder, said driving member having an inclined surface slidingly engaging said lower end section whereby said driving member is moved between forward and rearward positions in response to pivotal movement of said unit between said first and second positions.

2. In an article of the character described, a holder, a clip disposed externally of said holder and including an intermediate mounting portion and an inwardly directed dependent end portion, said mounting portion comprising a pair of side walls extending to a position within said holder, each of said side walls having in its forward edge an offset facing outwardly toward the wall of said holder adjacent said clip, a resilient actuating member within said holder and having an upper end section in engagement with the interior wall of said holder, a lower end section in engagement with the inwardly directed end portion of said clip, and an inwardly bowed intermediate section disposed between said side walls and provided with laterally extending shoulders abutting said olfsets, said actuating member resiliently urging the mounting portion of said clip inwardly to maintain said clip in yieldable operating position, said upper end section having outwardly extending means suspended on a transverse wall provided by said holder above said mounting portion to releasably maintain said actuating member against forward longitudinal movement relative to said offsets, whereby said clip and said actuating member form a unit adapted for pivotal movement between first and second positions, relative to said holder, a driving member disposed for reciprocal movement within said holder, said driving member having an inclined surface slidingly engaging said lower end section whereby said driving member is moved between forward and rearward positions in response to pivotal movement of said unit between said first and second positions.

3. In an article of the character described, an elongated holder having upper and lower aligned apertures disposed in a spaced relationship therein, a writing point assembly disposed within said holder for reciprocal movement therein between point exposed and point concealed positions, a pocket clip disposed externally of said holder, said pocket clip including an upper end portion, an intermediate mounting portion and a lower end portion having an inwardly directed tip disposed adjacent said lower aperture, said mounting portion comprising a pair of side walls extending through said upper aperture to a position within said holder, each of said side walls having in its forward edge on offset facing outwardly toward the wall of said holder adjacent said clip, a resilient actuating member within said holder and having an upper end section engaging the interior wall of said holder, a lower end section in engagement with the inwardly directed tip of said clip, and an inwardly bowed intermediate section disposed between said side walls and provided with laterally extending shoulders abutting said offsets, and resiliently urging said mounting portion inwardly to maintain the clip in yieldable operating position, said lower end section overlying said lower aperture for contact with said inwardly directed tip, an outwardly extending section in tegral with the upper end of said actuating member, said section being suspended on a transverse wall provided by said holder above said upper aperture to releasably maintain said actuating member against forward longitudinal 20 in said holder in abutment with the upper end of said writing point assembly, said driving member having an inclined surface slidingly engaging said lower end section whereby said driving member and said point assembly are moved between forward and rearward positions in response to movement of said unit between said first and second positions, said driving member including transverse surfaces defining first and second indents contiguous with the lower and upper ends of said inclined surface, said lower end section removably abutting said first indent when said unit is in said first position and said second indent when said unit is in said second position, and a resilient element urging said driving member and said writing point assembly toward said rearward position and said unit toward said first position upon disengagement of said lower end section from said second indent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,881,736 Zepelovitch Apr. 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 798,155 Great Britain July 16, 1958 1,086,929 France Aug. 18, 1954 1,187,563 France Mar. 2, 1959 

1. IN AN ARTICLE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A HOLDER, A CLIP DISPOSED EXTERNALLY OF SAID HOLDER AND INCLUDING AN INTERMEDIATE MOUNTING PORTION AND AN INWARDLY DIRECTED DEPENDENT END PORTION, SAID MOUNTING PORTION EXTENDING TO A POSITION WITHIN SAID HOLDER, A RESILIENT ACTUATING MEMBER WITHIN SAID HOLDER AND HAVING AN UPPER END SECTION ENGAGING THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAID HOLDER, A LOWER END SECTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INWARDLY DIRECTED END PORTION OF SAID CLIP, AND AN INWARDLY BOWED INTERMEDIATE SECTION IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MOUNTING PORTION OF SAID CLIP AND RESILIENTLY URGING SAID MOUNTING PORTION INWARDLY TO MAINTAIN SAID CLIP IN YIELDABLE OPERATING POSITION, THE UPPER END SECTION OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER HAVING MEANS FOR SUSPENSION ON SAID HOLDER ABOVE SAID MOUNTING PORTION TO RELEASABLY MAINTAIN SAID ACTUATING MEMBER AGAINST LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID CLIP, WHEREBY SAID CLIP AND SAID ACTUATING MEMBER FORM A UNIT ADAPTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS RELATIVE TO SAID HOLDER, AND A DRIVING MEMBER DISPOSED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID HOLDER, SAID DRIVING MEMBER HAVING AN INCLINED SURFACE SLIDINGLY ENGAGING SAID LOWER END SECTION WHEREBY SAID DRIVING MEMBERS IS MOVED BETWEEN FORWARD AND REARWARD POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS. 